Champions: SJKT Ladang Highlands Klang football team won the Malaysian Indian Football Association (Mifa) Under-12 category.
THE late R. Arumugam, nicknamed ‘Spiderman’ may not ring a bell with the current generation of sports enthusiasts, but the former football legend has been an inspirational figure for SJKT Ladang Highlands Klang coach K. Sivakumar.
Sivakumar has the former great to thank for in inspiring him to lay a solid foundation for success in the school’s young football team.
The Klang-based team emerged as the national champions of the Malaysian Indian Football Association (Mifa) Under-12 category last week and the young kids’ achievement has made the coach proud.
Sivakumar used to train under former national goalkeeper Arumugam back in the 80s when the latter was one of the safest hands Malaysian football team had ever had.
Back to basics: Coach K. Sivakumar putting the boys through the paces in training.
It was Arumugam’s brilliance between the posts and his gloves that the then 10-year-old Sivakumar decided that being a goalkeeper was all he wanted to do when he laced up his football boots.
Arumugam passed away in a tragic road accident at the age of 35 on Dec 18, 1988 but he continued to be a well known figure to the older generation in Port Klang.
“Arumugam was born in Port Klang and I was a very young kid. Being an Indian player for the national team is really something and our national team at that time were really respected in Asia,” recalled Sivakumar.
“He also started his own club, Starbrite SC, as part of his personal contribution to the youngsters in his housing area.
“That was my first club and I had the unforgettable experience of training under Arumugam in my formative years.
“I never wanted to be anything else but a goalkeeper. I think that was the biggest influence he had. He had a commanding presence with his long arms and I wanted to be like him.
“I think the younger generation now may not be familiar with him but I try to spread the love for football to the kids living in our area,” said the 51-year-old coach, who has been coaching in Klang Bayu Tinggi FC for the last eight years.
In good hands: Grassroots football coach K. Sivakumar with the Malaysian Indian Football Association (Mifa) Under-12 category winner’s trophy.
Sivakumar has been involved in grassroots football all his while and his biggest hope is that one of the kids will someday go on to play for the national team.
“There has been no player from Klang for sometime in the national team.
“I am so happy that we finally tasted success at a national level tournament like the Mifa Under-12 competition.
“It’s not easy and a lot of hard work needs to be done in preparing the players for a competition.
“We need to be patient with them as they are kids after all,” said Sivakumar, who helps with the coaching of the players from the youngest age category (Under-8) to the highest (Under-16).”
Bayu Tinggi FC team manager R. Sivanantham is delighted the hard work is paying off.
“Bayu Tinggi FC were started by a group of former footballers from our area.
Star of the future: Former MIC vice-president T. Mohan and football legend Datuk Santokh Singh presenting the prize of Best Young Player to M. Nitishwar.
“In fact, this is not the first trophy won this year as the team won the Selangor KEC Headmaster Council competition earlier. But the Mifa was a national level competition from 40 schools and was played in Penang.
“We managed to send the team there with the help of our sponsor and also contributions from parents.
“We were held to a draw in our first match in the league stage but the players did so well to come back strongly after that. In the final, we managed to beat the defending champions SK Dengkil on sudden death penalty.
“One of the players M. Nitishwar, who is only 11, won the Best Player award and was rewarded with RM300.
“Also we want to thank the SJKT Ladang Highlands Klang principal S. Kokilavany for the support to the team.”
With dedicated figures like Sivakumar, Sivanantham and visionary principal like Kokilavany, don’t be surprised to see great players like Arumugam, Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun emerging from Klang.
